Tips on finding a better Holiday letting in Languedoc Roussillon, South France

Hunting for that elusive holiday letting in the south of France? Wondering how to choose from the many great-sounding properties on offer? Then take a tip or two from someone (me!) who’s spent many a happy vacation (and a couple of holidays from hell) in gîtes, villas and holiday lettings in the south of France.

Shop around

Don’t book the first holiday letting you find. There are literally hundreds (make that thousands) of holiday homes available to rent in the south of France, and some are much nicer than others. Take time to read through the listings and get a feel for what constitutes the good, the bad and the downright ugly, before you make your choice.

Use specialist sites

If you’re hunting for holiday lettings in the south of France, you’ll be better off using a website that specialises in this region alone (and here’s a clue: if you’re reading this, you’ve already found the right site). Other sites with their nationwide, “we list all holiday lettings, everywhere” approach won’t be able to give you the same amount of choice or detail.

Call before you book

If you have very specific needs (like disabled access, or child-friendly facilities), try ringing or emailing the owner to find out whether their letting is truly suitable for your holiday requirements. Take it from someone who booked a so-called “child-friendly” letting in the south of France for a two-week break and then spent a fortnight helping her toddler up and down a steep spiral staircase. Nowadays, I always call ahead and check. If the owners have young children themselves, they’ll understand exactly why you’re asking. If they’re off-hand or vague, keep looking.

Get the timing right

Planning to visit the south of France in high lettings season? One thing you need to know is just how hot it can get. Summer 2003 and 2006 were scorchers (we’re talking 40 degrees Centigrade plus), and the sweltering trend shows no sign of abating. So think about how you’re going to keep your cool in your holiday letting in the south of France. If there’s a pool, you’re laughing. If there’s air con, you’re sorted. If there’s not, can the owner provide fans? Is there shady (and I mean really shady) outside space for al fresco dining? Visit our Weather pages for a full run-down of weather statistics, as well as what each season and month of the year is like weather-wise.

Study the photos

I once went on a word processing course. One of the things the tutor talked about was WYSIWYG, or What You See Is What You Get. Nowadays, when booking holiday lettings in the south of France, I always bear the “wizzy wig” thing in mind: can I actually see what I’m getting for my hard-earned cash? Are there lots of good quality photos showing the property in detail, inside and out? If there are, I’m reassured: the owner is happy to show what’s on offer. If there aren’t, warning bells ring: why would you buy something you couldn’t see properly? The property lettings in the south of France on the Crème de Languedoc site come with plenty of nice pics – and I do like that.